NRC: An Indian Point reactor threat could bring 50-mile evacuation

Mar. 17, 2011

Written by

Brian Tumulty

Journal Washington bureau

WASHINGTON — The nuclear power plant crisis in Japan is not a reason to take immediate safety measures at any of America's 104 nuclear plants, top nuclear regulatory officials said Wednesday.

Even so, one Nuclear Regulatory Commission official told a Senate panel his agency would order a 50-mile evacuation, as the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo has done, if the U.S. experienced a reactor failure equivalent to the disaster unfolding at the Fukushima plant in northern Japan.

The embassy evacuation order targeted U.S. civilians and military personnel living in northern Japan.

For residents of the New York City and northern New Jersey metro area, that would mean evacuating 15 million people living within 50 miles of the Indian Point power plant in the Village of Buchanan in Westchester County.

Some members of New York's congressional delegation don't think such a massive evacuation is possible on a timely basis.

Democratic Reps. Nita Lowey of Harrison and Eliot Engel of the Bronx say the crisis in Japan highlights the need to prevent relicensing the Indian Point reactors when their permits expire in 2013 and 2015.

"In the wake of this catastrophe, we really have to evaluate carefully whether we are able to deal with a natural disaster or terrorist event at Indian Point or collateral issues like a loss of power or inability to cool fuel rods," Lowey said.

Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-Mount Kisco, who lives near Indian Point, agreed evacuating 15 million people "would be a challenge" but said there's an "exceedingly remote" chance it would be necessary.

She called herself a "supporter of the continued operation of Indian Point."

The NRC requires nuclear power plants to prepare evacuation plans for a 10-mile radius.

Edwin Lyman, senior scientist for global security at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told senators Wednesday that the U.S. has no plans for 50-mile evacuations, noting that an incident at Indian Point similar to the one in Japan would require evacuating New York City.

Both of New York's senators said the disaster in Japan hasn't changed their support for continued use of nuclear power as long as safety concerns are addressed.

"We all see gas prices going through the roof," Sen. Chuck Schumer said. "So we have to be really mindful of the fact we should look at every domestic source of energy so we are no long dependent on foreign oil from places like Libya or Iran or Venezuela. Having said that, Japan reminds us that when it comes to nuclear energy, safety has to come first."

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand supports building new nuclear plants in New York communities where there is local support, such as western New York and other upstate areas.

At Wednesday's briefing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Gillibrand asked about an MSNBC-TV report that the NRC's updated review of earthquake threats now ranks Indian Point as No. 1, ahead of California plants.